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Stoke give up on Imbula but make fresh winger move

Stoke City are reported to have given up on Giannelli Imbula and rejected an offer for Mame Diouf, but they could try again for Andriy Yarmolenko.

Stoke, who have been knocked out of both the Capital One Cup and FA Cup this week, are yet to add to their squad this month but were looking into the possibility of signing Imbula from Porto.

The Potters were said to be willing to break their transfer record to land the midfielder but have now given up hope of a deal this month, according to the Sunday Telegraph, having been frustrated by the demands of both Porto and Imbula’s representatives.

Hughes remains “hopeful” of making one signing before the window closes, however, with the Potters set to make another bid to sign Yarmolenko from Dynamo Kiev, according to the Sun on Sunday.

Stoke failed to convince Kiev to sell the winger in the summer but are apparently planning another attempt amid fears that Marko Arnautovic could leave the Britannia Stadium at the end of the season.

The newspaper says Hughes is also in the market for a striker and has an interest in Chelsea’s Loic Remy, but an injury to Marc Wilson in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Crystal Palace could leave centre-half cover top of the Welshman’s list of priorities on Monday.

The Sunday Telegraph also says Stoke turned down a ‘significant offer’ for Diouf from abroad and expect the striker to stay despite him struggling for opportunities in recent months.